By Sam Mattison
Alabama Political Reporter
German-based manufacturer Winkelmann Group announced on Monday they plan to invest $12 million to establish a metal forming operation in Auburn, Alabama.
The operation will create 50 jobs over the next 5 years and will be named Winkelmann Flowform Technology.
Governor Kay Ivey applauded the decision.
“As we declare to the world that Alabama is open for business, we welcome Winkelmann to our family of aerospace and defense-related companies in Alabama,” Ivey said. “The Winkelmann Group, with over a hundred years of industrial history, operates numerous manufacturing facilities globally, and we are extremely proud that they chose Auburn as the home of Winkelmann Flowform Technology.”
Winkelmann Group’s CEO Heinrich Winkelmann said the move will help the company to serve the aerospace and oil and gas industry in the US.
“Our flow-forming engineering and manufacturing know-how combined with the one-of-a-kind machinery equipment installed at our Auburn facility creates solutions for our customers, who demand and deserve only the highest quality,” Winkelmann said.
Winkelmann Group is based in Ahlen, Germany, with facilities around the globe that produce parts for other industries.
“With its three divisions – Automotive, Building + Industry and Flowforming – the Winkelmann Group is one of the leading groups of companies in the metal forming sector and undertakes work for well-known companies from a wide range of different industries,” their website said.
The group comes with the approval of Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.
“Winkelmann is a family company that’s been around for more than a century because it possesses a tremendously high level of technical expertise in manufacturing,” Canfield said.
Dr. Chris Roberts, the dean of Samuel Ginn College of Engineering at Auburn University, said the decision could open the door for future employment opportunities for students at Auburn.
“We had several conversations with the leadership of Winkelmann,” Roberts said. “There are numerous areas where some of our departments — including mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering and materials engineering — will be able to assist the company with its operation in Auburn. And the company will offer excellent employment opportunities for our students in the future.”
The Mayor of Auburn Bill Ham Jr. said the move will “create excellent job opportunities for residents.”
“I am extremely grateful for the support we’ve received from the State of Alabama, and I’m proud to welcome Winkelmann to the Auburn family,” Ham said.
